114. Pitching The Idea

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Sitting in a small, dimly lit meeting room, Sandro laid out his proposal to Dusty and Steve. They were both veteran minds of the industry, but even they looked at Sandro with wide-eyed surprise as he began describing his concept. "So, think about a match that's bigger than any steel cage, a true war zone where teams battle inside two rings, surrounded by one massive steel cage that covers both," Sandro began, his eyes lighting up as he leaned forward. "I call it…War Games."

Dusty's jaw dropped slightly, his mind spinning as Sandro's words rekindled memories of his own. Dusty Rhodes himself had created War Games years before as a signature match type, though the concept had never fully made its way to the mainstream in the current FCW format. Hearing Sandro propose it as a full pay-per-view event gave him an overwhelming sense of pride.

"Son, I don't know how you knew about this, but War Games…that was my baby," Dusty said, shaking his head with a smile. "You're talking about one of the most brutal and dramatic match types ever created. This has all the makings of a classic."

Sandro nodded. "Exactly. It's more than just a match; it's a story in the ring. Teams of four, maybe even five, fighting for survival, locked inside this double-sized cage. Each team member enters on intervals, creating this slow build, this tension that keeps the fans on the edge of their seats."

He could see Dusty and Steve soaking in the potential. "It'll be a show-stopper, something that fans talk about for years. And not only would it elevate our current roster, but it'd create unforgettable moments that'll make FCW feel like a true proving ground."

Steve, who had seen countless matches and heard many creative pitches in his career, was visibly impressed. "Sandro, the psychology involved alone like the strategy, the team dynamics, the suspense, War Games could become the most talked-about match we've ever seen in FCW."

But Sandro wasn't done. Taking a breath, he looked to Dusty and Steve with an even bolder proposal. "And there's another idea I've been working on, one that might be even more ambitious." The two leaned forward, curious. "A special pay-per-view event where we collaborate with other promotions."

Steve raised an eyebrow. "Other promotions?"

"Yes, I'm calling it the 'Forbidden Door'," Sandro explained, his voice gaining momentum. "Imagine, wrestlers from different promotions fighting in matches where it's about pride, honor, and, sometimes, championships. A stage where dream matches can happen, where we could bring in stars from other promotions. It would be something that's never been done on this scale, a true spectacle where wrestlers cross over, and fans get to see their favorite stars clash."

Dusty looked thoughtful, absorbing the impact of such an idea. "Sandro, you're talking about breaking tradition. But if we can make this happen, we're talking about a wrestling renaissance. You've got WWE, our parent company, and other big names, but historically, rival promotions have never fully worked together like this."

Steve nodded. "It's risky, but if WWE is willing to back it, this could bring wrestling fans from every corner to FCW. And in the process, we could establish ourselves as the breeding ground for these dream matches."

Sandro understood the risks; convincing WWE to greenlight something like the Forbidden Door was no small feat, maybe in the past that would be a problem but with Nexuk Core now the second largest shareholder in WWE, it will be an easy feat to convince WWE through his father.

Even if it would offend Vince a bit, the potential to transform FCW from a developmental league into a globally recognized wrestling developmental ground was worth the challenge.

The three continued to brainstorm, discussing the logistics of staging a War Games pay-per-view and the steps they'd need to take to approach WWE for the Forbidden Door event.

They sketched out match structures, considered which rival promotions might be receptive to a crossover event, and discussed how they could ensure that the matches were treated as legitimate, high-stakes encounters.

The idea of War Games alone was enough to generate excitement. Dusty, who had poured his heart into wrestling for decades, was ecstatic about the prospect of resurrecting his creation for a new generation. He immediately began strategizing. "We'll need top-tier talent, people who can sell the emotion of War Games and handle the physicality. But I know the crowd would go wild if we can make this happen."

By the end of their meeting, Dusty, Steve, and Sandro had agreed to move forward, with Dusty taking the lead on presenting the War Games idea to the WWE executive who was put in charge of keeping tabs on FCW's progress.

Sandro would focus on drafting a pitch for the Forbidden Door, a proposal that he would send to his father Jack, who then would present it to WWE's executive team, including Vince McMahon himself.

As they exited the meeting room, Sandro felt a surge of exhilaration. For the first time, he realized that his vision was taking shape, blending the best parts of his past life's memories with the possibilities of this new world.

Sandro heads toward the parking lot, gets in his car, and drives back to his apartment to draft his pitch and proposal that he would present to his father about the Forbidden Door pay per view, which Jack would present to Vince McMahon and the WWE Board Of Directors.

After a couple of minutes driving back to his apartment, Sandro settled into his apartment, and immediately set up his laptop on the small wooden desk in his room.

The quiet hum of the air conditioner served as background noise while he began drafting the proposal for the Forbidden Door. His fingers danced across the keyboard, laying out every detail of the concept, from its potential partnerships to the dream matches it could deliver.

The stakes were high, but he was determined to articulate why this event could be revolutionary not just for FCW but for professional wrestling as a whole.

Sandro opened a new document and began writing his pitch to his father, Jack. He broke it down into sections Concept, Execution, Potential Collaborators, Financial Projections, and Fan Engagement Strategies.

Concept: The Forbidden Door is an unprecedented wrestling pay-per-view where rival promotions come together for one night to deliver dream matches. This isn't just about competition; it's about collaboration, celebrating the art of professional wrestling across companies. Wrestlers will face off in matches that blend styles, create rivalries, and elevate both promotions involved.

Execution: The event would feature 6–8 matches, with stakes ranging from championship belts to pride-based storylines. FCW wrestlers would act as the core representatives of WWE's developmental brand. Sandro listed potential promotions that could collaborate, focusing on smaller indie companies and even larger organizations like NJPW or ROH.

Financial Projections: A key section of the proposal detailed how Forbidden Door could expand FCW's global reach, drive higher subscription numbers for the WWE Network, and increase merchandise sales. Sandro emphasized that by collaborating with other promotions, WWE could tap into international markets and fanbases previously untapped by the company.

Fan Engagement Strategies: Social media would play a pivotal role in hyping the event. Sandro proposed interactive campaigns where fans could vote for match stipulations, participate in live Q&A sessions with the wrestlers, and win exclusive merchandise. He also suggested creating mini-documentaries that highlighted the history and rivalries between the promotions.

After hours of writing, revising, and polishing, Sandro leaned back in his chair, satisfied with the draft. He sent the document to his father with a quick message: "Dad, this is the big one. Let me know what you think."

Meanwhile, inside Dusty's office, Dusty adjusted his glasses, meticulously rewriting the details of War Games into a formal pitch document. Every rule, every sequence, and every dramatic element Sandro had described was laid out.

Using the landline office phone, Dusty pressed the numbers to call the WWE Executive. After several dials, the sound of the phone being answered sounded and a woman's voice came out from it, saying that this was Stephanie McMahon speaking and asking who it was calling her to which Dusty said to the woman that it was him Dusty Rhodes who called her.

Hearing that it was Dusty, Stephanie was surprised as she didn't expect Dusty to call her, and with a more re-energized voice, "Dusty! What a surprise. What can I do for you?"

"Steph," Dusty began, his voice carrying the weight of his enthusiasm. "I've got somethin' big for ya. It's a concept that's near and dear to my heart, but it's also something Sandro pitched, and lemme tell ya, that boy's got the brain of a creative genius."

Stephanie chuckled. "Well, now you've got me hooked. What is it?"

Dusty leaned back in his chair, explaining the concept of War Games in vivid detail. "It's not just a match, Steph; it's a war. Two teams, two rings, one massive steel cage covering them both. The match builds over time as team members enter at intervals, and when all members are in, that's when the real fight begins. Pinfall, submission, or sheer survival, it's the ultimate test."

Dusty's voice softened as he continued. "I created this match back in the '80s. It was something special, but it never found its way into WWE. Now, I think the time is right. FCW could use this to elevate our talent, and if it works, you could bring it to the main roster. Sandro's idea was to make it a pay-per-view event, buildin' a whole show around it."

Stephanie was silent for a moment, clearly processing the idea. "Dusty, this is incredible. I can see the potential. The suspense of the staggered entries, the drama of the cage—it's brilliant. And Sandro pitched this, you said?"

"He sure did," Dusty replied. "The kid's got a knack for takin' old ideas and givin' them new life."

Stephanie's tone grew more enthusiastic. "Hunter and I have been keeping an eye on Sandro. His performances, his creative pitches, he's a future star in and out of the ring. This War Games idea… I think we could make it work. I'll bring it up at the next creative meeting with my father and push for it to happen in FCW for a tryout."

Dusty smiled. "Good to hear, Steph. You bring this to Vince, and I'll keep workin' with Sandro to fine-tune the details. This could be the next big thing in wrestling I'll tell ya, it could create large waves in the fans."

Stephanie smiled on the other side of the phone and told Dusty that she would try her best but if her father didn't agree and didn't budge on the decision he had made, then there was nothing she could do at least until she and Hunter find a way to convince her father.

Dusty said that it wasn't a problem, if push came to shove he would implement the idea without Vince knowing about it and present the good result to him because facts speak louder than words. Stephanie smiled wryly when she heard this, and after exchanging a couple of words the call ended.

Stephanie leaned back in her chair as she hung up the office phone, her mind swirling with the possibilities Dusty had presented. War Games wasn't just an idea; it was a potential game-changer. Wrestling fans, from diehards to casual viewers, would be drawn to the sheer spectacle of such a match. Dusty's excitement was infectious, but she knew the real challenge lay ahead: convincing her father, Vince McMahon.

Grabbing her personal phone, Stephanie quickly dialed her husband, Triple H. "Hunter, can you swing by my office? I've got something we need to talk about—it's big," she said.

"On my way," Triple H replied without hesitation.

Within minutes, the door to her office opened, and Hunter stepped in, looking curious but relaxed. "Alright, Steph, what's the big deal?"

Stephanie gestured for him to take a seat across from her desk, her expression serious. "I just got off the phone with Dusty. He and Sandro pitched something incredible—a War Games pay-per-view for FCW. Dusty explained the concept, and honestly, I think it could work. But you know how Dad is. He's resistant to anything that deviates from his vision, even if it's brilliant."

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Name: Alessandro Zhang

Age: 19 (2009)

Birthplace: Orlando, Florida USA

Brand: FCW

Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Style

Faction: Dragon Boom (Tag Team)

Championship History: 1x FCW Tag Team Champions